Children who use technology are 'better writers'

I was really pleased to read on the BBC website last month that "Children who use technology are 'better writers'"

A research survey was carried out by the National Literacy Trust: "Our research suggests a strong correlation between kids using technology and wider patterns of reading and writing," Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, told BBC News. "Engagement with online technology drives their enthusiasm for writing short stories, letters, song lyrics or diaries."

Of course we at Kids on the Net have known this for 12 years. It's our raison d'etre that writing online not only increases digital literacy but more general literacy as well: increasing interest and skills in writing and reading. I will never forget the many instances of children I have worked with who had never liked or found writing easy before, but were inspired and enthused by the whole idea and concept and experience of writing online. Often these have been boys. Teachers have shaekn their heads and said things like "He's never written more than a sentence before!". It makes it all worthwhile.

So it's no news to me that "the more forms of communications children use the stronger their core literary skills".

Try reading some of our brilliant Kids on the Net writers and that's self-evident!

Curriculum changes

Interesting new developments in the curriculum for primary schools have been leaked according to The Guardian. Prescriptive rules about which topics and areas of history to study are being scrapped in a move which should lead to more creativity possible for individual schools and teachers, but there is bound to be criticism of the new emphasis on digital forms of communication.

No, primary school children do NOT need to learn Twitter! But they do need to be aware of the tools of communicaton. Though whether they need to be taught them is another matter - in most schools it's the children who are capable of teaching the teachers about digital literacy.

Using video

Via tombarrett on Twitter: "Nine Interesting Ways* to use your Pocket Video Camera in the Classroom" http://is.gd/gXpf

Having just been shown a student video of (controlled!) explosions in A-level chemistry class. It was never as much fun when I was at school!

If you have a literacy related video do get in touch with Kids on the Net if you'd like us to publish it!

Videoed book reviews? Poetry readings? How-to videos?